Los Angeles County Charts New Path to End Veteran Homelessness

LOS ANGELES — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn to establish a unified countywide framework to end veteran homelessness in Los Angeles County, expanding the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ (MVA) role in coordinating veteran housing and support services.

“I think it is a collective sin that people feel — that those who put their lives on the line for us now find themselves sleeping on our streets,” said Supervisor Hahn. “The good news is veteran homelessness is an area where we’ve made progress. Now, I believe ending veteran homelessness is within our reach – and it is my goal that with this new framework we can break down the bureaucratic barriers that have made it too hard for veterans to get the help they need and ensure the entire county system and our partners in the State and the VA are finally rowing in the same direction.” 

The motion builds on work launched in early 2023, when the Board declared a local emergency on homelessness and instructed MVA and the Chief Executive Office (CEO) to identify barriers that limit the County’s ability to effectively serve veterans.

“With the continued investment and determination from the Board of Supervisors and continued support from our fellow county departments including our new Homeless Services and Housing Department (HSH), we will have the opportunity to develop the framework needed to achieve an effective end to veteran homelessness as defined by the federal government,” said Jim Zenner, Director of MVA. 

According to the most recently published estimates, 3,050 veterans are experiencing homelessness — a notable improvement from recent years. But despite this progress, coordination with state and federal partners, including CalVet and the VA, confirmed that significant barriers persist, including fragmented service delivery, uncoordinated entry points, inconsistent eligibility requirements, and documentation challenges that slow or block access to housing. The motion aims directly at these gaps, creating a stronger, more coordinated system designed to remove these obstacles and accelerate progress.

“No veteran in Los Angeles County should experience homelessness. This motion by the Board of Supervisors marks a hopeful and strategic turning point in our countywide efforts to coordinate our resources to better reach our goal of ending homelessness among veterans,”  said Sarah Mahin, Director of the Department of Homeless Services and Housing. “I look forward to collaborating with MVA to ensure the people who served their country receive the services and housing resources they deserve.” 

These issues affect all veterans but fall most heavily on Black and Latino veterans in high-need communities such as Compton, Inglewood, and South Gate–East Los Angeles, where higher unemployment, elevated poverty and disability rates, and limited access to VA health services compound these challenges.

Early Collaboration Shows Strong Momentum To improve coordination and access, the One Team initiative aligns outreach workers, housing navigators, and case managers across systems. Since the pilot launched, the County has seen measurable progress:

• Permanent housing placements increased 43%

• Veteran homelessness decreased 22.9%, from 3,878 in 2023 to 2,991 in 2024

“We have arrived at a place where we can act on our Board’s mandate because of the tireless commitment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs here at Greater Los Angeles and the Homeless Program Office to create and develop the One Team,” said Zenner.

These outcomes demonstrate the impact of coordinated veteran-centered strategies supported by targeted investments. New statewide funding through Proposition 1 and Mental Health Services Act reforms, along with support from Measure A, further strengthens the County’s capacity to serve veterans.

Building a Coordinated, Veteran-Centered System The motion expands MVA’s responsibilities, and directs deeper collaboration among County departments, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), CalVet, the VA, and other stakeholders to reduce institutional silos and create a more unified and accountable system.

Among its key directives, the motion calls for:

• County sponsored legislative and regulatory changes to remove systemic barriers and improve access, developed and recommended by MVA, the CEO, and County Counsel.

• Collaboration with CalVet to seek equitable Proposition 1 funding based on regional needs and available resources.

• Authority for MVA and LACDA to pursue a VA case management agreement enabling self-referrals and direct referrals to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (HUD-VASH), drastically cutting down wait times.

• Standardizing HUD-VASH exit reason data across housing authorities to strengthen retention analysis.

• Reporting back in 180 days with a countywide strategy developed in collaboration with HSH, MVA, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH), the CEO, and the VA to align systems, define roles, address the needs of non-VA eligible veterans, expand regional supports, and establish shared metrics and data governance.

• Maintaining a real-time veteran dashboard and by-name-list to support coordinated case management and resource planning across systems.

• Assessing County-owned properties suitable for veteran housing, including analysis of current veteran housing, occupancy levels, tenant-based resources, and regions where veterans want to live but lack access.

• Strengthening long term support for the veteran homelessness strategy by expanding resources and partnerships, securing consultant support, and improving reimbursement practices.

• Reviewing the feasibility of a veteran logistics center to support basic needs and emergency accommodations.

• Developing a plan to align veteran workforce programs with the homelessness response, expand America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) access, strengthen career pathways, and improve tracking of employment outcomes for veterans.

By aligning county, state, and federal partners under a unified framework, the motion is designed to reduce delays, expand access to services, strengthen retention in housing, and increase economic and workforce opportunities. The countywide framework will return to the Board within 180 days, with supplemental reports due at 120 days.

Resources for Veterans Veterans experiencing homelessness can call 310-268-3350 (Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.) for same-day housing assistance, or 211 for after-hours support.  Visit: va.gov/greater-los-angeles-health-care/health-services/homeless-veteran-care for additional resources.